Packaging device

ABSTRACT

A device for packaging goods, such as in a supermarket and the like, is arranged to pack the goods in a flexible bag-like member held in an open position at a loading station and, after the loading operation is completed, the bag-like member is sealed and delivered to a pick-up station in an automatically performed operation. Belts convey the bag-like members individually to the loading station where the members are opened for carrying out the packing operation. Other belts convey the packed bag from the loading station to the pick-up station and at a point between the loading station and the pick-up station the mouth of the bag is sealed. A belt conveyor can be used to support the packed baglike member from the loading station to the pick-up station. The bag-like members are withdrawn from a supply roll containing a continuous strip of interconnected bag-like members which have a reinforced mouth and the bag-like members are formed from a folded over longitudinally extending strip of flexible film material welded together at spaced positions to form the individual bag-like member.

I United States Patent 1151 3,673,765

Dohmeier et al. July 4, 1972 PACKAGING DEVICE 3,563,002 2/1971 Givin .53390 x [72] lnventors: Arnold Dohmeier Lienen; Diether Schwedhelm,Osnabruck, both of Ger- Pnmary Exammer Roben Spnnn many Attorney-McGlewand Toren [73] Assignee: Dohmeier & Strothotte KG, Lienen, Ger- [57]ABSTRACT many A device for packaging goods, such as in a supermarket and[22] Filed: June 1, 1970 the like, is arranged to pack the goods in aflexible bag-like member held in an open position at a loading stationand, after [21] Appl' 41873 the loading operation is completed, thebag-like member is sealed and delivered to a pick-up station in anautomatically [30] Foreign Application Priority Data performedoperation. Belts convey the bag-like members individually to the loadingstation where the members are June 6, 1969 Germany P 19 28 661.4 openedfor carrying out the packing operation other belts convey the packed bagfrom the loading station to the pick-up station and at a point betweenthe loading station and the 58] Fie'ld 'g 53/187 188 6 373 390 pick-upstation the mouth of the bag is sealed. A belt conveyor 5 can be used tosupport the packed bag-like member from the loading station to thepick-up station. The bag-like members are withdrawn from a supply rollcontaining a continuous strip [56] References Cited of interconnectedbag-like members which have a reinforced UNITED STATES PATENTS mouth andthe bag-like members are formed from a folded over longitudinallyextending stnp of flex1ble film material g g i t l "53/187 X weldedtogether at spaced positions to form the individual 1 1 y ba -likemember. 2,751,134 6/1956 Walldow g 3,564,814 2/1971 Graveley ..53/391 X9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PACKAGING mzvrcn SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to an automatic packaging device forstores, such as supermarkets and the like, and more particularly it isdirected to a device for positioning individual bag-like members removedfrom a strip of interconnected members, which are located at a loadingstation in an opened condition for receiving the goods and, after thegoods are packed, the individual bag-like member is removed from theloading station, the open end of the bag-like member is sealed and it isdelivered to a pick-up station, such as at the end of a check-outcounter in a supermarket. Further, the invention is concerned with theformation of the bag-like members formed in a continuous interconnectedstrip from a longitudinally extending folded over strip of a flexiblefilm material. The strip of flexible film material is weldedperpendicularly to the fold line at spaced positions for forming theindividual bag-like members and lines of a weakness or perforations areformed between the bag-like members so that they can be easilyseparated.

In large retail stores, especially in self-service stores such assupermarkets, it is customary to provide a checkout counter at which thecost of the goods is tabulated and the goods are packed into bags. Suchcheck-out counters usually consist of a cash register with a seat forthe person operating the cash register and a counter surface on whichthe customer places the goods he has selected. The counter surface isfrequently combined with a horizontally arranged conveyor belt which canbe adjusted into three or more different positions with receivingcontainers located at the opposite ends of the different positions ofthe conveyor belt from the counter surface.

In such as arrangement, the checker or person operating the cashregister takes the goods from the counter surface, enters the price ofthe goods into the cash register, and then places the goods on theconveyor belt so that they are collected at the end of the conveyor beltin the receiving container. After the customer has paid for the goods,he can take the goods from the receiving container and place them intohis own shopping bag or into bags provided at the checkout counter forpackaging the purchased goods. After each customer is checked out, theconveyor belt is shifted horizontally so that the goods of the nextcustomer are delivered into a different receiving container at the endof the conveyor belt.

It has been found that even though three receiving containers arearranged side-by-side, and the conveyor belt is adjustable horizontallyto fill the three containers, the time required for packing the goodstakes so long that the checking out operation is delayed and interruptsthe smooth flow of customers from the store. Particularly where a largenumber of items are purchased, it is readily understandable that thepacking, whether effected by the customer or a store employee, requiresmore time than tabulating the purchases of the next two customers at thecheck-out counter.

The primary object of the invention is to avoid this bottleneck whichdevelops at the check-out counters in retail stores, particularly insupermarkets, and to provide an automatic packaging device to speed thechecking-out operation and to eliminate the delays, mentioned above,whether the goods purchased are packaged manually by the customer or bya store employee.

The problem solved by the invention involves the use of a packagingdevice in which holding and feeding means are composed of two separatebelt groups which can be driven independently of one another. The firstbelt group delivers the bag-like members to a loading station at whichthe mouth of the bag-like member is opened to receive the goodspurchased and the second belt group extends from the loading station toa pick-up station for removing the packed bag-like member from theloading station and delivering it, in a sealed condition, to the pick-upstation. Such a packaging device can be incorporated into the checkoutcounter so that the goods, afler their price is tabulated, are packedautomatically into the baglike member. This packaging device, inaccordance with the present invention, makes it possible for the checkerto take the goods from the customers shopping basket or from the countersurface provided for that purpose and, afler tabulating the price of thegoods, to position the goods so that they can be packed directly into abag-like member and when all of the goods have been tabulated, thebag-like member can be automatically sealed and delivered to the pick-upstation at the end of the check-out counter ready to be carried away bythe customer. While the goods are being automatically packaged anddelivered to the pick-up station, the customer can pay for them and,while the customer is picking up his goods, the checker can proceed tothe next customer and start checking out the items he has purchased andplacing them at the proper location for the packaging operation. in thisway, no problem develops with the goods of successive customers becomingmixed at the pick-up end of the check-out counter. After a customer haspaid he can pick up the sealed bag-like member or members and carry themfrom the store without requiring any further packaging operation.

In the German Auslege schrift Pat. No. 1,225,537, a fully automaticapparatus is disclosed for the continuous packing of coarse bulk goods.In such equipment, a strip of flexible film material, such as acontinuous sheet of a plastic film is fed into a specially designedmachine for forming interconnected bag elements and the bulk goods, suchas potatoes, are continuously packed into the individual bag elementsfrom a storage hopper. Though this packaging arrangement has been on themarket since 1965 and is widely used in potato packing plants, neitherthe bag-like members nor the packaging equipment used would indicate asolution to the problem to which the present invention is directedbecause of the different characteristics between the bulk loadingoperation of the prior art and the selective loading and packagingoperation of the present invention.

To date the attempts to solve the problem to which the present inventionis directed have extended in a different direction from that taken bythe present invention, that is, to increase the number of containerspositioned at the pick-up end of the adjustable conveyor belt used atthe check-out counter. However, this answer to the problem has thedisadvantage that it requires considerable'space with the resultantlimitation in the number of available check-out counters. Apart from theadvantages achieved by the present invention, in eliminating delays atcheck-out counters, the invention also has advantages of a securitynature. Since, after the checker operating the check-out counter hasentered the price of the goods into the cash register and the bag-likemember is automatically sealed, it is not possible to place anyadditional goods into the bag-like member. As a result, the customerleaves the store with sealed bags which afford a positive protectionagainst shoplifting because any goods carried out by the customer whichoriginated in the store and are not contained within the sealed bagsmust have been stolen. The packaging device is incorporated into thecheck-out counter and the opening in the counter surface through whichthe goods are charged into the bag-like members can be arranged so thatonly the checker can place the goods in position to be filled into thebag-like member located at the loading station. The characteristic ofthe packaging device provides another security feature which preventsgoods from being removed from the store without being paid for.

Another feature of the invention is the incorporation of the control ofthe packaging device with the circuit of the cash register so that,afler the total of the goods purchased has been entered, the opening inthe counter surface to the loading station is closed and the conveyormeans of the packaging device is set in motion for delivering the packedand sealed bag to the pick-up station.

To prevent the possibility of a delay during store rush hours due to thereplacement of a roll of bag-like members, the present invention alsoinvolves the provision of extra supply rolls of the bag-like memberswithin the check-out counter in such a way that a replacement roll canbe effected automatically when another roll has been completed.

The present invention also contemplates the use of a plurality ofpackaging lines each supplied with a separate roll of baglike members sothat each roll has bag-like members of a different size. In such anarrangement, large bag-like members made of a relatively strong materialcan be provided for large or heavy items, such as bottles, cans and thelike and smaller bag-like members of lower strength material can beprovided for packaging small items so that waste of the film likematerial used in fonning the bag-like members is kept to a Wheredifferent packaging lines are provided at the check-out counter,different charging openings are also provided each operated by its owncontrol button.

Preferably, the openings in the counter surface at the loading stationsare closed by a scanning flap which is incorporated into the circuit ofthe packaging device so that when it is opened, the device comesoperative. By actuating an additional key or button on the cash registeror other control panel, the flap can be closed again and the device isready for the next packaging operation.

In the path of the bag-like member, as it is conveyed from the loadingstation to the pick-up station, is a welding device for sealing the openend of the bag-like member. In a preferred embodiment of the invention,the welding device effects a double weld of the open end along linesextending in the path of direction of travel of the member so that apair of welds are provided, one on each side of a carrying handle formedin the bag, so that the canying capacity of the bag is substantiallyincreased.

At the pick-up station end of the checkout counter, the packed andsealed bag-like members can be picked up by the customer without furtherprocessing. Preferably, a conveyor belt is arranged between the loadingstation and the pick-up station for supporting heavy bags as they areconveyed to the pick-up station.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there are illustrated and described preferredembodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the Drawings:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a check-out counter incorporating apackaging device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the packaging device illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational and sectional view of one embodiment of acontinuous strip of bag-like members; and

FIG. 4 is an elevational and sectional view of another embodiment of acontinuous strip of bag-like members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIG. 1, a check-out station isillustrated such as is typical in a supermarket and other similar retailestablishments. A cash register 1 is positioned at one end of anelongated checkout counter 2. The counter 2 forms a casing or housingfor a packaging device and its upper surface, adjacent the cashregister, provides a counter surface on which the goods selected by acustomer are placed preparatory to the checking-out operation. In thetop of the counter 2, adjacent the surface on whichthe goods arearranged for the checking out operation, three charging openings 3, 4,and 5 are provided, each having a scanning flap 6 which opens when atitem is placed on it. It will be readily understood that other scanningdevices or closing means can be provided for the charging openingswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

Within the counter 2 at its end adjacent the cash register, three supplyrolls 7, 8 and 9 of flexible filrn material for forming the bag-likemembers are arranged. The supply rolls can be formed of continuousstrips of interconnected bag-like members or the packaging device caninclude apparatus for folding a continuous strip of the film-likematerial, preferably formed of a continuous band of plastic materialsuch as is commonly used in packaging operations, and converting thefolded strip into a continuous strip of interconnected bag-like memberssealed along the edges and open at the top so that material can beinserted into the members,

In FIG. 2, the manner in which the film-like material is removed fromthe supply rolls 7, 8 and 9, is shown with the material 10 being removedfrom the roll 12 and fed to one of the charging openings where thebag-like member is opened and subsequently conducted to a device forsealing the bag and delivering it to a pick-up container 1 1 at theopposite end of the counter 2 from the cash register 1. As shown in FIG.2, the film material 10 is withdrawn from a supply roll 12 and isconducted through two guide rollers 13 to the guide plates 14. In thehousing of the guide plates 14 photoelectric scanning apparatus can beprovided for scanning the film material and controlling its intermittentfeed.

After its passage through the guide plates 14, the film material isconducted over tension rollers 15 and arrives at the inlet of a pair ofbelts l6 and 17 which are arranged to hold and feed the bag-like membersto the loading station. The belts 16 and 17 are of a V-belt constructionand are conducted over guide and tension rollers so that the bag-likemembers can be moved into the loading station aligned below the opening3 at which position the mouth or open end of the bag is spread apart byan opening device'l8 in preparation for receiving the goods to bepackaged. The belts 16 and 17 hold the bag-like member below thecharging opening 3 so that the bag-like member is ready to be packed.Before the continuous strip of bags reaches the charging opening 3 asevering device 19 is actuated so that individual bags are presented atthe loading station below the charging opening 3.

Adjacent the loading station, a second pair of belts 20, 21 extend overguide and tension rollers for receiving the filled bag and fortransporting the bag to the container 11 which forms the pick-up stationat the end of the counter. In FIG. 2, a bag-like member 25, is shownbeing conveyed from the loading station to the pick-up station andpassing through a sealing device 22. As is illustrated in FIG. 1, thesealing device 22 is a welding apparatus formed of a pair of weldingbars 23, 24 one located above the other for welding the bag-like member25in two separate lines across its previously open end. As can be seenin FIG. 3, a carrying handle 26 is provided in the bag-like memberbetween the two weld lines and, in addition to providing a seal for themember, the welds also increase the carrying capacity of the bag-likemember.

After the bag-like member 25 is sealed the belts convey it into thecontainer 11 where the bag-like member 25, as represented in FIG. 1, isready to be picked up by a customer. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 1, aconveyor belt 38 is positioned below the bag-like member 25 forsupporting it as it is conveyed from the loading stau'on below thecharging opening 3 to the container 11. The operation of the two pairsof belts 16, 17 and 20, 21 is controlled so that when a filled and stillopen bag is taken by the second pair of belts 20, 21 an additionallength of the film material is unwound from the feed roll 12 so that asingle bag-like member 25 can be positioned in the open condition belowthe charging opening 3 for the next packaging operation. When thebag-like member is in place the first pair of belts l6 and 17 arestopped. However, the second pair of belts 20 and 21 are ready toreceive a filled baglike member from the loading station for sealing itand delivering it into the pick-up container 11. Only when the bag-likemember is discharged into the container 11 is the drive of the belts 20,21 stopped. However, it is posible to arrange the packaging device sothat the belts 20, 21 are driven continuously and the first pair ofbelts l6 and 17 only work intermittently for positioning individual bagsat the loading station.

The arrangement of the film material for us in the packaging device ofthe present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. In each Figurethe film-like material 10, which as mentioned previously is a plasticsheet material of the type commonly used in packaging operations, isfolded over providing a longitudinal fold at the bottom of the bag sothat bag can be opened and provide flat bottom construction so that thecapacity of the bag-like member is increased. The opposite sides of thefolded over strip of material are welded together at spaced locationsalong the length of the strip providing a pair of adjacent welds 35, 36which extend from the bottom fold toward but spaced from the free endsof the strips. A line of weakness or perforations is provided betweenthe welds 35 and 36 from the bottom fold to the free edges of the stripto improve the ability of the interconnected bag-like members 25 to beseparated into individual members for placement at the loading station.As mentioned above, the severing device 19 provides the separatingaction for dividing the interconnected bag-like members into individualmembers.

In FIG. 3, the free ends of the strip of film material which form theopen end of the bag-like members are provided with an additional foldedover strip 32, 33 of similar material for reinforcing the open ends. InFIG. 4, the free ends of the strip are folded over as shown by the flaps29 and 30 to provide the reinforcement. The bag-like member as shown inFIG. 4 is of a simpler construction and would be used for smallerpackages than the bag-like member illustrated in FIG. 3. In both FIGS. 3and 4, the reinforced opened end of the bag is shown with dotted linesextending generally parallel to the bottom fold line and along theselines the weld bars 23, 24 provide the sealing effect for the bag-likemembers after they have been filled. Between the lines 27 and 28, thereinforced ends are cut to provide handle openings 26. As mentionedabove, when the bag is filled, and sealed the weld lines 27 and 28 notonly seal the bag but also increase its carrying capacity when thehandle 26 is used.

It will be appreciated that various materials can be used in forming thebag-like members as long as the materials satisfy the requirement ofproviding a sealed closure for the bag-like members after the packingoperation has been completed.

We claim:

1. In apparatus for use in association with a web of packaging materialwhich is longitudinally folded so that the folded edge forms a closedlower edge of a continuous web, with the web being open at its upper endand divided by welded seams extending at right angles between the upperand lower edges to form a plurality of bags connected to one anotheralong weakened tear lines located between the welded seams, theapparatus including first belt conveyor means operable to engage anddraw the web from a supply thereof to a loading station, spreader meansat the loading station operable to open a bag, and means operable tosever the leading bag from the web; the improvement comprising, incombination, a retail store check-out counter enclosing said apparatusand having a counter top for receiving customers articles to be packedin said bags; said counter having a storage space at one end for storinga supply of the packaging material; said counter top having at least oneopening intermediate its ends vertically aligned with said loadingstation for packing of customer's articles from said counter top into abag at said loading station; an externally accessible customer's pick-upstation at the opposite end of said counter; and second belt conveyormeans operable, independently of said first belt conveyor means, to

engage a packed bag at the exit of said loading station and transportthe packed bag to said customer's pick-up station.

2. A device for automatically packaging different goods purchased in astore, such as in a supermarket, in a sealed flexible bag-like membercomprising wall means forming a casing and providing a counter surfaceas the top of said casing for receiving the goods to be packaged, saidcasing forming an open space below said counter surface, said countersurface having at least one opening therethrough communicating with theopen space therein, first means located within the open space in saidcasing for moving individual flexible bag-like members from a storagestation into a loading station and for holding the bag-like members inthe loading station aligned below the opening in said counter surface,means for opening the mouth of the bag-like member at the loadingstation below the opening in said counter surface, and second means forremoving individual ones of the bag-like members from the loadingstation after the completion of the loading operation and for deliveringthe bag-like member to a pick-up station, said second means includingmeans for sealing the mouth of the filled bag-like member and saidsealing means located intermediate the loading station and the pick-upstation, said means for sealing the mouth of the filled bag-like membercomprising a pair of welding members disposed in parallel relationshipwith one spaced above the other and extending in the direction of travelof the bag-like member from the loading station to the pick-up station,and said welding members arranged to receive the bag-like member forforming a pair of spaced welded seals across the mouth end of thebag-like member.

3. A device for automatically packaging different goods purchased in astore, such as in a supermarket, in a sealed flexible bag-like membercomprising wall means forming a casing and providing a counter surfaceas the top of said casing for receiving the goods to be packaged, saidcasing forming an open space below said counter surface, said countersurface having at least one opening therethrough communicating with theopen space therein, first means located within the open space in saidcasing for moving individual flexible bag-like members from a storagestation into a loading station and for holding the bag-like members inthe loading station aligned below the opening in said counter surface,means for opening the mouth of the bag-like member at the loadingstation below the opening in said counter surface, and second means forremoving individual ones of the bag-like members from the loadingstation after the completion of the loading operation and for deliveringthe bag-like member to a pick-up station, said second means includingmeans for sealing the mouth of the filled bag-like member and saidsealing means located intermediate the loading station and the pick-upstation, said first means comprising a pair of endless first belts androllers for driving said belts, said rollers being arranged so that saidbelts are in juxtaposed relationship for a portion of their path oftravel so that the bag-like members are gripped by said belts for movingthe bag-like members into the loading station and for combining withsaid means for opening the mouth of the bag-like member for holding itin position to be loaded at the loading station.

4. A device, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said second meanscomprising a pair of endless second belts and rollers for driving eachof said second belts, said rollers being arranged so that said secondbelts are disposed in juxtaposed relationship for a portion of theirpath of travel so that said second belts can withdraw the bag-likemember from the loading station and convey the bag-like member throughsaid sealing means and deliver it in the sealed condition to the pick-upstation.

5. A device, as set forth in claim 4, wherein a conveyor is positionedbelow said second means and extending from the loading station to thepick-up station for supporting the baglike members and for assisting inconveying the filled bag-like member to the pick-up station.

6. A device, as set forth in claim 3, wherein a supply roll is locatedwithin said casing and spaced from the loading station for holding asupply of interconnected bag-like members, and said first meansincluding rollers for withdrawing the bag-like members in theinterconnected condition from said supply roll and for delivering themto said first belts.

7. A device, as set forth in claim 6, wherein a continuousinterconnected strip of bag-like members is wound on said supply roll,said strip of bag-like members comprising an elongated band of flexiblefilrn material folded along a longitudinal fold line providing a pair ofopposite sides each having a free edge disposed in adjacent co-extendingrelationship with the other, additional flexible film material disposedalong and secured to the free edges of said elongated band for formingreinforced edge surfaces along the free edges, said reinforced surfacesalong said free edges having an opening therethrough spaced from thefree edge with the opening extending generally parallel to the fold lineof said band so that the opening can be used as a handle, said fold linebeing arranged to provide an openable bottom for the bag-like member,the opposite sides of said folded band being welded together atlongitudinally spaced positions to fonn individual interconnectedbag-like members with the welded edge portions extending from the foldline to a position adjacent the reinforced free edges for permitting thebag-like members to be easily opened, and the welded edge portions ofthe interconnected bag-like members having lines of weakness extendingfrom the fold line to the free edges thereof whereby the bag-likemembers can be separated from one another, and, afier being separatedand filled, each of the bag-like members is welded along a pair ofspaced longitudinally extending lines adjacent the free edges thereofwith said weld lines being located on the opposite sides of the handleopening through the reinforced edges.

' 8. The improvement claimed in claim 1, including sealing meansengageable with the open end of each bag, during transport from saidloading station to said pick-up station, to seal the open end of apacked bag.

9. The improvement claimed in claim 1, including selectively openablenormally closed cover means for each opening in said counter top.

1. In apparatus for use in association with a web of packaging material which is longitudinally folded so that the folded edge forms a closed lower edge of a continuous web, with the web being open at its upper end and divided by welded seams extending at right angles between the upper and lower edges to form a plurality of bags connected to one another along weakened tear lines located between the welded seams, the apparatus including first belt conveyor means operable to engage and draw the web from a supply thereof to a loading station, spreader means at the loading station operable to open a bag, and means operable to sever the leading bag from the web; the improvement comprising, in combination, a retail store check-out counter enclosing said apparatus and having a counter top for receiving customer''s articles to be packed in said bags; said counter having a storage space at one end for storing a supply of the packaging material; said counter top having at least one opening intermediate its ends vertically aligned with said loading station for packing of customer''s articles from said counter top into a bag at said loading station; an externally accessible customer''s pick-up station at the opposite end of said counter; and second belt conveyor means operable, independently of said first belt conveyor means, to engage a packed bag at the exit of said loading station and transport the packed bag to said customer''s pick-up station.
 2. A device for automatically packaging different goods purchased in a store, such as in a supermarket, in a sealed flexible bag-like member comprising wall means forming a casing and providing a counter surface as the top of said casing for receiving the goods to be packaged, said casing forming an open space below said counter surface, said counter surface having at least one opening therethrough communicating with the open space therein, first means located within the open space in said casing for moving individual flexible bag-like members from a storage station into a loading station and for holding the bag-like members in the loading station aligned below the opening in said counter surface, means for opening the mouth of the bag-like member at the loading station below the opening in said counter surface, and second means for removing individual ones of the bag-like members from the loading station after the completion of the loading operation and for delivering the bag-like member to a pick-up station, said second means including means for sealing the mouth of the filled bag-like member and said sealing means located intermediate the loading station and the pick-up station, said means for sealing the mouth of the filled bag-like member comprising a pair of welding members disposed in parallel relationship with one spaced above the other and extending in the direction of travel of the bag-like member from the loading station to the pick-up station, and said welding members arrangEd to receive the bag-like member for forming a pair of spaced welded seals across the mouth end of the bag-like member.
 3. A device for automatically packaging different goods purchased in a store, such as in a supermarket, in a sealed flexible bag-like member comprising wall means forming a casing and providing a counter surface as the top of said casing for receiving the goods to be packaged, said casing forming an open space below said counter surface, said counter surface having at least one opening therethrough communicating with the open space therein, first means located within the open space in said casing for moving individual flexible bag-like members from a storage station into a loading station and for holding the bag-like members in the loading station aligned below the opening in said counter surface, means for opening the mouth of the bag-like member at the loading station below the opening in said counter surface, and second means for removing individual ones of the bag-like members from the loading station after the completion of the loading operation and for delivering the bag-like member to a pick-up station, said second means including means for sealing the mouth of the filled bag-like member and said sealing means located intermediate the loading station and the pick-up station, said first means comprising a pair of endless first belts and rollers for driving said belts, said rollers being arranged so that said belts are in juxtaposed relationship for a portion of their path of travel so that the bag-like members are gripped by said belts for moving the bag-like members into the loading station and for combining with said means for opening the mouth of the bag-like member for holding it in position to be loaded at the loading station.
 4. A device, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said second means comprising a pair of endless second belts and rollers for driving each of said second belts, said rollers being arranged so that said second belts are disposed in juxtaposed relationship for a portion of their path of travel so that said second belts can withdraw the bag-like member from the loading station and convey the bag-like member through said sealing means and deliver it in the sealed condition to the pick-up station.
 5. A device, as set forth in claim 4, wherein a conveyor is positioned below said second means and extending from the loading station to the pick-up station for supporting the bag-like members and for assisting in conveying the filled bag-like member to the pick-up station.
 6. A device, as set forth in claim 3, wherein a supply roll is located within said casing and spaced from the loading station for holding a supply of interconnected bag-like members, and said first means including rollers for withdrawing the bag-like members in the interconnected condition from said supply roll and for delivering them to said first belts.
 7. A device, as set forth in claim 6, wherein a continuous interconnected strip of bag-like members is wound on said supply roll, said strip of bag-like members comprising an elongated band of flexible film material folded along a longitudinal fold line providing a pair of opposite sides each having a free edge disposed in adjacent co-extending relationship with the other, additional flexible film material disposed along and secured to the free edges of said elongated band for forming reinforced edge surfaces along the free edges, said reinforced surfaces along said free edges having an opening therethrough spaced from the free edge with the opening extending generally parallel to the fold line of said band so that the opening can be used as a handle, said fold line being arranged to provide an openable bottom for the bag-like member, the opposite sides of said folded band being welded together at longitudinally spaced positions to form individual interconnected bag-like members with the welded edge portions extending from the fold line to a position adjacent the reinforced free edges for permittIng the bag-like members to be easily opened, and the welded edge portions of the interconnected bag-like members having lines of weakness extending from the fold line to the free edges thereof whereby the bag-like members can be separated from one another, and, after being separated and filled, each of the bag-like members is welded along a pair of spaced longitudinally extending lines adjacent the free edges thereof with said weld lines being located on the opposite sides of the handle opening through the reinforced edges.
 8. The improvement claimed in claim 1, including sealing means engageable with the open end of each bag, during transport from said loading station to said pick-up station, to seal the open end of a packed bag.
 9. The improvement claimed in claim 1, including selectively openable normally closed cover means for each opening in said counter top. 